on Foreign Doves. 233


brother from Africa, and the mate to it died on the voyage.

My friend had no aviary, and for some time she kept “Chib-

warra” in a cage. She told me he loved to be put where the

firelight fell on him, evidently thinking it was sunshine, and

would now and then make a curious whistling sound. But

after a few weeks the pigeon began to be ill, and my friend,

fearing he would die, asked me if I would take him to do what

I could for him. Poor “Chib” arrived one snowy day, and

I did my best to nurse him back to health, but he grew gradually

weaker. At last, in despair, I tried him with some of Mr. Dixon

Jenkinsou’s pills, though in much doubt as to how they would

suit a Fruit Pigeon. They seemed to do the bird a great deal of

good, and had I given them earlier I think he might have got

better, but it was too late to save his life. “Chib” was a hand¬

some bird, bright green in colour, with bright yellow 011 his

underparts and thighs. He had pale blue eyes, and very scarlet

legs and feet. The shoulders were washed with a purple

mantle. Half his beak was grey and the other half bright red.

“ Chib” fed on boiled maize. He used to hop in a very curious

way, and though so handsome was rather a clumsy bird.


THE DAMARA TURTEE-DOVE.


Turtur damcirensis.


I have given what I conclude is the correct name for this

dove—as it agrees with the description given in the British

Museum Catalogue of Doves and Pigeons—-but I cannot be sure

it is the right one. I had four of these birds sent me in a

consignment of doves from Africa. Three of them, I believe,

were cocks, the fourth a hen; but the sexes seem alike in

plumage. I have one pair left, and they are pretty gentle little

birds. In size about the same as a Senegal Dove, and in

colour soft shades of grey and white, with a black collar half way

round the back of the neck, and full dark eyes. The breast is

almost white and the back brownish grey, while the feet and legs

are crimson, as is the case with most other doves. In that

quaint and interesting old book, “ The Dovecote and Aviary,” by

the Rev. E. S. Dixon, there is a curious old Arab legend as to

the reason why the feet and legs of doves and pigeons are



